Waterboy

Thor enjoys watering the flowers and himself.

Dugast en route!

Just in time for the season Dugast has a bunch of 'cross tires on the way to the U.S.

Typhoon's, Flying Doctor's, & Rhino's for all your 'crossing needs.

Cyclocrossworld should have them in stock late next week.

I have a set of Rhino 34's on the way. I'm looking forward to pouring a Belgian beer and gluing up those mofo's... mmmmmm glue...ahhhh. Hopefully they'll help me out at places like Granogue or Nationals where the Tufo's were lacking in traction.

I'll keep the Tufo's on my pit bike and switch them up for dry and fast tracks.

Registration for Charm City 'Cross is up to 69 one month prior to the race. I think we're going to have a big turnout and another fun race.

Gotta get this off my chest

Why do smokers have to toss their motherfucking cigarette butts on the ground, in the street, or anywhere but the trash??? Do they think that millions of cigarette butts add an element of beauty to the landscape? Do they think that millions of cigarette butts feed the pigeons or fertilize the soil? Or are they just lazy shitheads?

Singletrack cyclocross

This morning I met fellow 'crossers Mike O, Mike H and Sean for a ride at Avalon on the 'cross bikes. Sean was on the yellow mtb since his cx bikes are not quite put together. We rocked a good chunk of the Park for 3 hours, only stopping to fix a couple of flats. Pinch flats are inevitable out there when riding skinny tires. You can try to float over the rocks and roots, but eventually one will sneak up and get you.

The big wheels roll really well on the dry singletrack so we were moving pretty fast the entire ride. When we got to logpiles and other obstacles sometimes we rode them and other times we dismounted to sharpen the cx skills. We shouldered the bikes and ran the rock garden at the top of Cascade Falls. We were tempted to hit the jumps, but we thought better of it. No need to destroy any 'cross wheels trying to flail around on the rocks or jumps. 8-)

Other than the rock gardens there's not much out there that you can't ride on a 'cross bike. It does give you a different perspective on the trails and you really have to watch your lines a lot more. I ride these trails all the time and I never get tired of them, but today I saw the trails in a new light. I've ridden them on the 'cross bike, but it's been almost a year. I had a blast out there...great trails and good company. I was incredibly stoked when I got home.

Thor helped me hose the dirt off my legs and now he's taking a nap. Melanie is out on the trails with Di. I just finished up a tasty bbq chicken quesadilla and a Hooegaarden. Now I'm chilling on the couch. Life is good.

Mike should have some photos of the ride up here later today.

Practice Loop

Natz Info.

It sounds like the host hotel at 'Cross Nationals in Providence, RI will either be The Providence Biltmore (last year's host) or The Westin Providence. The final decision is set to be made by September 1st.

No word yet on how they'll work registration & staging protocols. I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering. The Natz website has not been updated, but it will likely be relaunched sometime in September.

I'll post details as I learn them.

The Petting Zoo

Thor and I took a trip to Clark's Elioak Farm & Petting Zoo this morning.
We've ridden by this place a bunch on our bikes as we make our way out to western Howard County, but this is the first time we've visited.

Thor hit it off with the animals immediately. There were goats, sheep, horses, donkeys, pigs, cows, an emu, turkeys, chickens, ducks, and rabbits. We'll be coming here in October for a hayride and pumpkin picking. The farm also sells fresh vegetables.

This place is a gem and it's right off 108 in Columbia/EC.

Well, it's 8:30pm and I'm making myself ride the trainer tonight since Thor and I picked up a pizza from Bertucci's after hanging out at the pool. I'll be doing a hard ride on the mtb tomorrow, but I can't let this day pass without some chamois time. Afterall, some cats were racing 'cross last night! I've gotta get my ass in shape in a hurry!

Here are some photos from the petting zoo.












And yes we washed our hands before having lunch.

committed

24 days until the Shenandoah 100.

I registered today, before the price increases. I was committed before, but now I'm really committed. Last night I Stans'd up my tires and this weekend I'll install new cables and housing. The Stans-ing went ok. The first tire went on fine, but it took me a while to get the second one to hold air. After some finessing and much pumping she sealed up. This morning both tires were still holding air. The bike should be ready even if my legs are not.

45 days until 'cross season kicks off.

I've had some good training this week. My legs and body are in a bit of shock, but that's a good thing. Undertrained, fresh, & motivated is the way to be at this point in the year...or at least that's what I'm telling myself.

This is a great time of year. It's still hot and nasty out, but Fall is right around the corner. And here in the mid-atlantic we have a long and glorious Fall.

keeping it fresh

hill repeats last night
on the fixed gear, oh dear.

10 minutes of grinding up and
7 minutes of spinning down

most importantly i did not crash
i am a fixie novice so getting out of control & crashing
is a real possibility

i'm glad bonnie branch is back open
damn, it's a nice road.

'cross practice tonight!
we've got an interesting 2km practice course
in the park next to my house

plus, i discovered some amazing 'cross terrain
at the middle school up the street
it's got a big sidehill, a la Granogue
to work on some off-camber, cork-screwy sketchiness.

i'm fresh & i'm motivated
& i'm having fun

word.

Charm City CX is up on Bike Reg

Registration is open for Charm City 'Cross at Bike Reg.
The race is Sunday 9/24/06 in Baltimore, MD at Druid Hill Park.
Old-time hockey, Eddie Shore...Toe Blake.
Plenty o' twists, turns, dismounts, & fast too.
Channel your inner Belgian and come to Charm City for the race & stay for the weirdness.

Registration order will be a factor in staging order (after UCI points, last year's final MABRA standings, and a couple of discretionary call up's) so sign up today!

Sand pit Dutch-style

08-04-06_1836.jpg

08-04-06_1836.jpg
Originally uploaded by cbnystrom.

training

08-04-06_1827.jpg

08-04-06_1827.jpg
Originally uploaded by cbnystrom.

panic merriweather post

Charm City 'Cross Course Map

Here's the preliminary course map for Charm City 'Cross.
The track was good last year, but the laps were a little long.
We've shortened it up, eliminating the paver stone out and back.
The stairs might get the axe too, depending on what the officials say.

There may be other tweaks too, but it'll be good.

Count on plenty of twists, some off-cambers, straight power sections, a sweet sand pit, and the natural dismount around the tree. Bike handling, cross skills, strategy, power, & speed will all be needed.

Be there Sunday 9/24/06. Registration on www.bikereg.com soon.

The next adventure

Shenandoah Mountain 100
Sunday, September 3rd
details here

Pour les grimpeurs, plenty of climbing


100 miles, great trails, tons of climbing, saddle sores, hamburger hands, camping, good food & beer.

Who else is in?